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Learning that enhances the full value of human experience and exploration is at the heart of a liberal arts education, and the capacity to engage with and participate in the creative arts is a key element of that experience. Establishing a Smith Office for the Arts provides a unique opportunity to extend the benefits of an arts education to all students while strengthening the arts on campus.

Students on stage in a theatre performance

Strengthening the Creative Arts at Smith

The office coordinates scheduling, performance management, interdisciplinary programming, and grant-making and serves as an incubator of cross-campus, cross-disciplinary initiatives for the creative arts departments at Smith, which include art, dance, film and media studies, music, and theatre. The director of the office provides leadership for the campus, seeding creative projects and growing internal and external audiences by establishing campus-wide exhibition and performance themes; commissioning faculty, student, and interdisciplinary programming and curricula as well as original works; promoting performances and premieres; and creating a culture of participation in arts events on campus.

By centralizing and strengthening the presence of the creative arts on campus, we will increase the visibility of the arts at Smith and prepare women to bring a deep understanding of problem solving and the creative process to every aspect of their lives and leadership.

Meet Leigh Fagin, director of the office 

Read About the Wallace Foundation Leadership Gift

Philanthropic Opportunities

$10M

Endowing the Office (staff and programs)

$250K+

Endowed Programming Fund

$150K+

Endowed Internship Fund

We welcome gifts of any size through The Smith Fund to support creative and performing arts programming and operations. Simply select the Creative and Performing Arts Fund when you donate. Your gift will support current expenses for performances, exhibitions, and other arts-based collaborations.

For more information, please contact: Betsy Carpenter ’93, Associate Vice President of Development at 413-585-2052 or ewcarpen@big5vn.com. Note that the Jean and David W. Wallace Directorship has been funded.